Door latch



JungeI 13,A was DooR LATCH 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed l June 27, 19:58

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P/n//p C' da/msdn Carmen M acey June 13, 1939. v P, C, JOHNSON ET AL 2,162,673 Doon LATCH' Filed June 27, 1938 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 DOOR LATCH P. c. JOHNSON Err AL Filed June 27, 193s June 13, 1939.

l Patented June 13,1939

NlTED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE noon Ls'rcn Philip C. Johnson and Gamen M. Stacey, Toledo, Ohio, aslignors to Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to door fastening' ievices, and more particularly to latch or lock means especially adapted vfor retaining vehicle doors in closed position. v 'I'he invention comprehends the provision of door fastening means which is simple and positive in its operation, `yet one which permits the door to be easily closed without the use of excess sive force'.

The invention embraces the provisionl of a door latch or fastening means of a character especially for use on doors of automotive vehicles wherein there is provided multiple latch bolts so arranged as to facilitate the door closing operation with a minimum amount of 4effort and one.

whicth provides asecondary safety latch arrangemen The invention has for an object the provision of multiple resiliently actuated latch bolt arrangement for door structures which is adapted for cooperation with a striker plate having different angular surfaces-to substantially reduce to a minimum the eifort required to close the door and yet provide a satisfactory safety latch;

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion o f a vehicle body and door structure illustrating a door fastening means of our invention;

-Flgure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing one form of arrangement of latching means in the door structure, the latter'being illustrated in closed position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the latching means with the door in partialopen po ition;

Figure 4 is a view simila to Figure 3 showing the latch or lock arrangement in safety catch position; y K

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Figure 2; A

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of latch structure of our invention;

Figi.. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substani` allv on the line 1--1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragni itary side elevational view of a portion of the latch structure showing the Appunti@ :une 27, 193s.- serisi No. l21am 'z claims. (01. 292-32) secondary latch bolt retracted by engagement with the striker plate; v

Figure 9 is an isometric view showing the primary latch bolt of the structure;

Figure 10 is an isometric view showing the 5 secondary latch bolt'forming a part of the latch structure.

Figure 11 is an isometric view of a striker plate forming a part of the invention;

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of a portion 10 of a latch structure showing a modiiied 'form of our invention;- f

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the form of latch structure of Figure 1 2 with the vehicle door in closed position;

Figure 14 is a view showin'g the arrangement of latch structure with t e door in latch dis'- engaging position;

Figure 15 is a view showing the door in partially closed position showing the secondary latch so o bolt in engagement with the striker plate. Y While we have illustrated the' arrangement of our invention as particularly adapted for use with vehicle doors. it is to be understood that we cony template theutilizatlon of the invention with any 25 closure structure with which it may be found to have utility.'

l:Referring to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated, and particularly in Figure 1,- a vehicle body construction 'l0 with which is fitted a door so Il arrangedv for pivotal movement about hinges f I2. The door in closed position is matched with or engages a pillar post il whichl is preferably covered with a sheet metal facing I5. The door structure Il is also inclusive of a sheet metal 35 angularty than the surface 23, and a latch engaging abutment surface 25.

With particular reference to Figures 6 through 10 inclusive, the lock or door latchng mechanism of our invention is inclusive of a supporting plate 50 30 having a laterally projecting flange 3| which is provided with an opening to accommodate a primary latch bolt 33 and a secondary latch bolt 34, thelatch bolts being shown per se in Figures 9 and 10 respectively.v The primary lor main 55 slidable member 39 is a tension plate or spring member 43 serving to hold the parts under tension to prevent vibration and rattling of the parts.

Positioned adjacent to and also slidably mounted inthe guide formed by the lbracket it and supporting plate t@ is a second horizontally slidable memberdl torrhich is pivotally connected an arm t@ (shown in Figures l and 6) by means of a pintle or rivet el, the arm being connected to a bell crank et carried by a supporting plate 49, the

bell crank being dried to an operating shaft 5B.

` Secured to the operating shaft is a latch operatlng handle. @i positioned interiorly of the vehicle at the forward portion of .the door to facilitate the `man,iipulation of the latch structure irom a 'point remote from `the latch.

Str-uci; up from the supporting plate t@ is a pair oiV ears l55 which serve to position the inner end E@ oi an expansive coil spring El, the other end of the spring g bent as at and contacts with the rear end of the primary latch bolt 33 as shown inl-Figure 6. The spring el exerts substantial force against the large bolt to urge the latter at all times to projected or door latchlng position.

The primary latch bolt is formed with a pair of laterally projecting portions @t as particularly sho in Figure 9, which function as guide means to accoodate the secondary latch bolt 3d shown in Figure 10,'the latter being sildably mounted between the projections et of the pri--V mary latch boltt. The latch bolt it is formed y with a notch di in its rear iace into which projects the end et? of a coil spring @3, the latter being coiled about a pin ad carried by the sup-z porting plate il@ and projecting laterally therefrom, the other end o the spring being bent as at 85 and projects through an opening in the plate 3B so as to maintain a .constant pressure upon the secondary latch bolt tending at all times to urge ittoward projected or latching position,

Secured to the horizontally slidable member il@ is a tenori portion d@ of a cylindrical member tl, the tenen Se being held into plate ii@ by means of riveting or swaging 'as shown at tti, the member el having an enlarged head portion @t as particularly illustrated in Figure 7. The secondary latch bolt is provided with an elongated slot 'it through which the member t? projects so as to permit limited relative slidable movement bev tween the primary and secondary latch bolts. It

lwill be noted trom an examination of Figure 7 that the secondary latch bolt is cut away o r recessed as at 14 so as to accommodate ythe horizontally slidable member 39.

The horizontally slidable member 39 is provided adjacent its upper edge with a transversely extending ear portion 'I5 which is adapted when the latch bolts are in full extended or door latching positionto engage a rubber bumper 16 mounted upon an ear portion 1T struck up from 'the supporting plate 30. This vbumper arrangement limits .the outward movement of the latch bolts and at the same time tends to deaden the sound of the bolts as they are moved to door locking position.

Positioned immediately beneath the latch bolts is' a latch bolt actuator l@ provided with a squared opening to receive a shaft iii to which is secured an actuating handle 82 (illustrated in Figure l). The horizontally slidable member 39 is provided with a laterally projecting ear B3 arranged in the path of an upwardly projecting portion B4 of the actuator 19 so that when it is desired to open the door. that'is, move the latch bolts laterally by movement of handle 82, member 'E9 is rotated and portion 8d thereof engages the ear a3, thus moving member t9 laterally carrying with it the latch bolts 33 and 3%.

it is to be noted that member 39 is provided with a laterally projecting ear 38 and that member tt is provided with a projection 8% so that when member M is moved toward the right as viewed in Figure 6, projection S9 of the member it will engage projection @E oi member 39 and retract both latch bolts by further movement of member M toward the right hand position against the tension or expansive force of both of the springs 5l and St.

It is to be noted that the raised portion 23 of the striker plate is considerably narrower than the dimension between the projections t@ of the primary latch bolt so that when the latch bolts are brought into engagement with the striker plate, the primary latch bolt does not engage portion 23 of the striker plate. The abutment or surface 2t of projection 23 serves as a safety catch so that in the event the projections @il of the primary latch bolt failed .for any reason to engage or take overon the surface @t of the striker plate, and the door tends to swing toward open position, the surface 26 of projection 23 is engaged by the secondary latch bolt te to prevent the door from swinging open, thus providing a safety catch means.

The operation of the above arrangement of our invention is as follows:

i l. the vehicle door is open-and it is desired to close the same, the closing movement oi the door as is illustrated in Figure 3 brings the pry latch bolt 33 into engagement with inclined surface 24 o the striker plate and the extremity of the secondary latch bolt 3d engages with-the angular or inclined surface 23 oi' the striker plate `whereby both primary and secondary bolts are moved inwardly or toward retracted position by the inward movement of the door and through the medi of the angular surfaces 2S and lof the striker plate. it is to be noted that the. surface 2d extends substantially full 'width of the striker plate providing a surface whose angularity is not severe in its retractin'g effect upon the primary latch bolt so that the effort required in closing 'the door to move the primary latch bolt 8,3 towards retracted position is considerably lessened over prior devices as the inclined surface being of full width of the striker plate provides a long distance for the surface to effect a retraction of the main latch bolt. 'I'he surface 23 of the striker plate is of greater angularity than surface lNand is of lesser width, but as this surface is engaged only by the secondary latch bolt 3l, the latter being urged outwardly under the influence of a comparatively light spring, it is readily retracted with very little effort. Thus, it is possible within the arrangement of our invention to close the door through the striker Aplate and multiple latch bolt arrangement with much less elTort than has been heretofore required.

After the secondary latch bolt 36 has over-ridaieaevs 3 den the projection 23 of the striker plate as indicated in Figure 4, it is automatically projected against the surface 24 of the striker plate under the influence of the spring 63 so that for the remaining inward movement of the door, both latch bolts are retracted by theface 24 of the striker plate until the bolts are beyond the surface 24 and are automatically projected under the inuence of the springs 5'iand 63 to full door latch position as illustrated in. Figure 2 with' both latch bolts in engagement with the latching surface 25 of the striker plate. In event that through vibratory action of the vehicle or other forces which `the handle 82 which rotates the shaft i and brings projection t@ into engagement with projection 83 on member 39 to retract both latch bolts, the secondary bolt being retracted by reason of pin 6l engaging the rear wall of slot l0 which establishes a connection between member 39 and the secondary latch bolt; The latch bolts may also be retracted from the interior of the vehicle bymanipulating handle 5i which rotates the shaft t, bell crank d8 and through the medium of the bar .to connected to member 39 actuates the latch bolts.

Figures 12 through l5 inclusive'illustrate a 'modified form of our invention wherein there is illustrated a latching means having the primary latch bolt 33 and secondary latch bolt at', the latter occupying the space between the projections t' of the primary latch bolt. The latch bolt actuating vmeans in vthis form of the invention is identical with that hereinbefore described in connection with the other form of our invention, particularly as exemplified in Figure 6 of the drawings.

vIn this form of the invention, however.. the striker plate 29' illustrated in Figures 13 through l5 inclusive is provided with an abutment or projection having an inclined surface 23', a safety catch surface 2t', and a second inclined surface '2t'. The projection 23 extends only partially of the total Width of the striker plate, while the retracted only under the`inuence of the. striker face 24'. When the door has been moved to closed position, both primary and secondary bolts engage the latch surface 25' of the striker plate to hold the door in latched position, the secondary bolt 34'/ projecting farther outwardly than the primary-latch bolt 33'. Should the latch bolts be retracted inadvertently, the secondary latch bolt 345 being under the constant influence of spring 63' will be projected outwardly and will engage safety ctch face 2B' of, the raised projection so as to prevent the door from being swung vto full open position. It is'to be noted as particularly illustrated in Figure 15,- that ir this form of the invention the primary latch bolt 33 never contacts or engages with the projection 23', but only strikes the inclined surface 2t of the striker plate. In. this manner the amount of retraction of the primary'latch'boli which is under the influence of a comparatively strong spring isA greatly reduced so-that the effort in closing a door with the latch'arrangement of our invention is greatly reduced.

It is apparent that within the scope of the invention, modifications and difierentarrange! ments may be made other than is herein closed, and the present disclosure. is illustrativi merely. the invention comprehending'all variations thereof.

What weclaim is:

1. The combination of a vehicle door'latcl mechanism including a striker plate, said strikei plate having a pair of inclined latch bolt retract ving striker surfaces of 'different angularity; x latch structure includinga support; a pair o1 latch bolts carried by said support, said latcl bolts being independently slidable, one with re spect to the other, one of said latch bolts bein| arranged to cooperate with one of the incline( surfaces upon said'striker plate, the other of sail bolts being adapted to cooperate with the othe` of said striker surfaces on said plate; abutmen means on saidvstriker plate adapted for cooper ation with said secondary latch bolt to forn safety catch means;A and means for simultane K ously retracting both of said bolts from projectel position.

'2. The combination of a vehicle door latcl mechanism including a striker plate, said strike plate having a pair 'of inclined latch member re tracting striker surfaces of different angularity a latch structure including a support; a pair o latch members carried by said support,said latcl members being independently movable'one witl respect to the other, one of' said latch member being arranged to cooperate with one of the in clined surfaces upon said striker plate, the othe of said members being adapted to cooperate witl the' other of said striker faces on said plate abutment means on said striker plate adapted fo cooperation with one of said latch members t form safety catch means; and means for retract ing both of said members from projected posi tion.

3. The combination with a door latch strike plate having an inclined latch bolt retractin surface; an abutment integrally formed on sai plate and having a bolt retracting surface o angularity'. different from that-of the first men tioned bolt retracting surface; latch meanssai latch means including a pair of nslidable bolt: one of said bolts adapted for cooperation wit` one of the inclined bolt retracting surfaces .o said striker plate, the other of said bolts bein adapted for` cooperation with the other incline bolt retracting surface of said striker plate.

4. The combination with a door latch strike plate having -an inclined latch bolt retractin striking surface; an abutment formed onA` sai plate and having an inclined latch bolt retraci ing striking surface of angularity different froi that of the rst mentioned striking surface; latc means; said latch means including a pair c 4 aioaevs latch bolts, one of said bolts adapted for cooperation with one of the inclined surfaces on said striker plate, the other of said bolts being adapted for cooperation with the other of said inclined surfaces.

5. The combination with a latch strike plate having an inclined striker surface; a raised portion integrally formed upon said plate providing a safety catch abutment, said raised portion having a striker face of different angularity than said rst mentioned striker face; latching means including al main latch bolt adapted for. cooperation with the first mentioned inclined surface on said striker plate, said main latch bolt having a "U-shaped portion, and a secondarylatch bolt slidably mountedy in the U-shaped portion of said main latch bolt and adapted for cooperation with said abutment providing a safety catch,

6. 'I'he combination with a latch strike plate having an inclined striker surface; a raised'por-f tion integrally formed upon said platevprovidingv a safety catch abutment, said raised portion hav'- ing a striker face of different angularlty than said first mentioned striker face; latching means including a main latch bolt adapted for cooperation with the irst mentioned inclined surface on said striker plate. said latching means including a secondary independentlyA movable latch bolt adapted for lcooperation with said safety catch abutment.

7. In combination with a door latch plate having a plurality of, latch bolt retracting surfaces of diiferent angularities; latch means including a plurality of latch bolts, each of said bolts be- PHILD? C. JOHNSON. CARMEN M. STACEY.

ing adapted for respective cooperation with one 

